UCONN MEN'S BASKETBALL: Huskies top Washington to wrap up non-conference play

Connecticut's Tyler Olander, left, grabs a rebound from Washington's Desmond Simmons during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

HARTFORD -- It wasn't exactly a $6,917,500 performance, but a win is a win. And the UConn men's basketball team finishes non-conference play and heads into the Big East at 10-2.

On a night when coach Kevin Ollie signed a five-year extension worth just south of $7 million, UConn was a tad shaky Saturday at the XL Center. Fortunately for UConn, its fellow Huskies from the University of Washington were even shakier, and UConn emerged with a 61-53 victory for the 6,600 or so snowstorm-braving fans.

"It was a good day in my life," a beaming Ollie said afterwards.

Omar Calhoun scored 14 points, Shabazz Napier added 13 points and eight rebounds (and seven turnovers) and Ryan Boatright netted 12 to lead the East Coast Huskies. Enosch Wolf, coming off the bench for the first time in four games, hauled down a team-high nine rebounds as UConn won the rebounding battle (40-36) for just the second time in 12 games this season.

Advertisement

"That was a real physical game, especially on the rebounds," said Wolf, the 7-foot-1 center. "Coming in and fixing our biggest problem in this game, I feel really good."

Ollie and athletic director Warde Manuel informed the team at its shootaround this afternoon about the coach's contract extension.

"We were heading into tonight with a positive mindset," said Calhoun. "It definitely feels good. Coach Ollie's a great guy, he wishes the best for everybody. He's the guy who recruited me here. Everybody was happy for him."

Added Wolf: "We work so hard for him to get that contract. We all know he deserved it. They should have given it to him right away, we all know that. So now we've got to prove it that he's the right guy. We've got to go even harder and can't let down."

As he walked from the locker room to the bench a few minutes before the opening tip-off, Ollie received a standing ovation from the crowd.

"My legs were shaking and everything," he said. "It was like the first game I stepped into the XL Center. I was excited for the moment. I just never thought it could happen for a guy out of South Central Los Angeles. But I'm an unrealistic thinker, just like Coach Calhoun."

After an entertaining first 10 minutes or so, both teams got sloppy and struggled shooting for most of the rest of the game. UConn didn't score a field goal the final 9½ minutes of the opening half but still had a 31-26 edge at the break.

UConn upped its advantage to as much as 14 (44-30) after Calhoun's alley-oop layup from R.J. Evans early in the latter half. But Washington would close to within four inside the final nine minutes.

However, Napier hit a rainbow jumper, and after a Washington free throw, UConn went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by Enosch Wolf's press-breaking, alley-oop dunk from Calhoun.

"When I went up, I didn't think I was going to get it, but I caught it," said Wolf. "I was happy he threw it, so I finally could get one."

Washington fell to 8-5. C.J. Wilcox, who entered the game averaging nearly 20 per game, was held to five points on 2-for-12 shooting. Napier guarded him for most of the contest.

UConn begins its Big East slate on New Year's Day at Marquette.

"I'm happy with 10-2, but I'm not satisfied," said Ollie. "Those are two different words. I think we can give a lot more, and I'm going to push the guys and will them to give them a lot more. They've been doing it."

RIM RATTLINGS

?DeAndre Daniels (nine points) left the game in the waning minutes after banging his chin on the floor. He'll need some stitches, but Ollie hopes he'll be ready to go against Marquette.

?UConn has now won 13 straight games over Pac 10/12 teams, dating back to its NCAA tourney loss to UCLA in 1995.

?There were 12,720 tickets sold for the game, though only about half of that showed up due to the snowstorm.

Said Ollie: "I know there's a foot of snow out there, and for them to come out and support us like they did, it's exceptional. It's outstanding. They're wonderful people that I love."